Woodwind instrument



June 5, 1951 H. w. LoNEY 2,555,980

WOODWIND INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 21, 1949A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5, 1951 WOODWIND INSTRUMENT Hugh W. .Loney, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to C. G.

Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,888

3 Claims.

My invention relates to Woodwind instruments and more particularly to a woodwind instrument of the saxophone type in which the G-sharp key 'is or is not actuated in sequence with the 3,'

B-flat, and C-sharp keys as desired.

Woodwind instruments of the saxaphone type typically include flat adjacent G-sharp, B, B-iiat, and C-sharp keys, all operated by the little finger of the left hand of the operator. The instrument is provided with openings corresponding to each of these keys and pads operable to close these 'openings during playing. Actuating elements connect each pad with the corresponding keys.

Heretofore the operating elements for the G sharp pad have been interconnected with the operating elements for the B-iiat, B, and C-sharp pads so that when any of the latter elements arr actuated the G-sharp pad is likewise actuated. However, some players' prefer the lighter action of .the key mechanism when the G-sharp pad i; not .actuated in unison with the B-il-at, B, and C-sharp keys and for these players the above construction is undesirable.

In accordance with the present invention a Isinglesax'ophone type instrument is provided with elements 'interconnecting the G-sharp pad and the B, B-flat and C-'sharp pads and capable 'adjustment to render ineffective the intercona nection. The instrument is therefore playable Veither by'players who prefer the interconnecte operation or by players who prefer operation Without the interconnection.

It is therefore a general object of the pres invention to provide an improved saxophone ty instrument including elements adjustable to in terconnect the G-sharp pad with the B-fiat, and C-sharp-p'a'ds as desired.

Another object of the present invention is if provide an improved saxophone type instrum it having conventional construction and operating elements but in which adjustable means are pi'c vided 'to interconnect the G-sharp pad with -th` B-flat, B, and C-sharp pads as desired.

Another object Aof the present 'invention is t provide adjustable actuating mechanism for e. saxophone.

The novel features which I believe to be charw acteristic of my invention are set forth with par ticularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects anfj advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, i which:

Figure i is a side view with parts in phantom showing a saxophone constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged fragmentary developed view of a key portiono the saxophone of Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion of the view of Figure 2 with parts broken away rto show mori. clearly portions of the mechanism underlying same; and,

Figures 4 and l5 are fragmentary cross sectional views through the indicated cross sections of Figure 3.

Referring now to the side View of Figure l, the saxophone is .formed with the usual tubular boei Iii of gradually increasing cross section and having a flaring bell I2 at one end and a mouthpiece I3 at the other end. The present invention rc lates to the interconnection of the G-sharp kc?. I4, the low B-flat key IS, the low'B key I8, and the-low C-sharp key 20.

The instrument illustrated in Figure 1 inf-l cludes `keys and other mechanism in addition to those to which the present invention relates. However, this mechanism is shown only :in phantom in the drawing to avoid the complexity otherwise associated with the explanation of thc present invention. It will, of course, be understood that the additional mechanism, though not; shown in detail, is in fact provided.

four keys I4, I5, I8 and 20 are prefera'biiY in the form of flat members dening a common plane, and are provided with rollers I6a, -In' :and2i1a to facilitate transfer of the finger of the operator from one key to another.

r`i'he key I4 is arranged to operate a normally,v vclosed Cf-sharp pad or stopper 2A. The key Iii is secured -to the rockable shaft 26 to which also is ured the arm 28. The latter extends transt 'sely of the instrument and overlays a mating arm Si) aiilxed to the rcckable shaft 32. Pad 2f' is attached to shaft 32a. Arm 32C is attached `to the shaft 32 and overlays arm 32h attached to shaft 32a. Shaft r32a 'is biased in direction to open pad 24 by the spring 33a which is held one end by post 33 and at the opposite end engages that shaft.

When the key I4 is depressed, shaft 26 is rocked to cause arm 28 to bear on arm 30 and thereby rock shaft 32 in direction to raise arm 32o. The resultant lifting of arm 3-2c frees shaft 32a for rocking movements under the bias of spring 33a to open pad 24.

The B-fiat key I6 is connected by arm IGa to the shaft 34 which is rockably supported by posts 34a. The B-flat pad 35 is also connected to this shaft by the arm 35a. Spring 35 is axed at its opposite ends to shaft 34 and to post 34a and urges pad 36 to the open position.

The B key I8 is attached to rockable shaft 38 by the arm |819 which curves underneath B-flat key I6 as shown. B pad 40 is connected to shaft 38 by the arm 40a. Spring 39 is aflixed at its opposite ends to post 38a and to shaft 3B, and urges pad 40 to the open position.

The B pad 49 may be closed against the bias of spring 39 either by pressure against key I8 or by pressure against key I6. In the latter case, key I6 engages the curved portion of arm |8b to rock that arm downwardly.

The C-sharp key 20 is ailixed to arm 20h which connected to rockable shaft 42. This shaft also is formed with an arm 44 extending transversely of the length of the instrument. Arm 44 overlays arm 45 which is attached to the rockable shaft 48. The latter is connected to C-sharp pad l) (shown from the under side in Figure 2) by the arm 50a. Spring 49 is anchored at its opposite ends to shaft 48, and to the supporting post 43a. This spring urges pad 59 to the closed position and ilexes when vkey 20 is depressed to open pad 50.

In accordance with the present invention the shaft 32 receives a lug 52 which underlies key 2B and lever I 8b in spaced relation with shaft 32. This lug threadedly receives screws 54 and 56 which extend upwardly therefrom to be engaged by keys .I 3 and 25, respectively.

The distance screws 54 and 56 project above the lug 52 xes the movement of the shaft 32 when keys I5, I8 or 20 are depressed. If, for example, the player prefers to have the pad 24 opened 'fully as these keys are actuated, the screws54 and 56 are adjusted to extend substantially above lug 52.

However, if the player prefers to have pad 24 remain in position as keys I6, I8 or 20 are actuated, the screws 54 and 56 are turned to retracted positions more nearly flush with lug 52, th-us permitting these keys to be fully depressed without rocking shaft 32,

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that by the present invention I have providedan improved saxophone capable of adjustment for use by players desiring to actuate the G-sharp pad in unison with the B, B-ilat, and C-sharp keys or by players not desiring this operation.

While I have shown and described only one mechanism whereby this operation may be accomplished it will, of course, be understood that in the appended claims I intend to cover all modiflcations and alternative constructions falling within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A woodwind instrument of the saxophone type having four flat closely adjacent finger plate keys approximately in the same plane, for G-sharp and B-flat and B and C-sharp, said instrument having tone-holes corresponding to said notes, pads for said tone-holes, means operated by said keys to actuate said pads, said means including a member rockable to actuate the pad corresponding to said G-sharp key and other members rockable to actuate said B-flat, B, and C-sharp keys, the first named member lying adjacent to the other members, and an element adjustably carried by the rst named member and adjustable into and out of the paths of movement of said other members for actuating the pad corresponding to said G-sharp key as said B-flat, B, and C-sharp keys are actuated when the element is in said paths of movement and for permitting movement of the B-fiat, B, and C- sharp keys independent of the G-sharp key when the element is out of said paths.

2. A woodwind instrument of the saxophone type having four flat closely adjacent finger plate keys approximately in the same plane, for G- sharp, B-lat, B and C-sharp, four levers for said keys mounted substantially parallel to each other crosswise of said instrument, the B lever underlying the B-at key for rocking movements in response thereto, said instrument having toneholes corresponding to each of said keys, a shaft connected to each of said levers and having pad elements adapted to close said holes, whereby actuation of said keys opens and closes said holes, a member affixed to the shaft corresponding to said G-sharp key and underlying said C-sharp and B levers and bearing adjustable elements normally operable to engage said levers but which may be retracted to operate free of said levers to move said member in response to movements of said C-sharp, B, or B-lat keys in the normal condition but to free said member from said movements when in the retracted condition.

3. An actuating mechanism for a saxophone having shafts individually rockable to actuate G-sharp, B-flat, B, and C-sharp pads, said mechanism including closely adjacent linger plate keys for each of said shafts, levers extending transversely of said saxophone and connecting each of said keys to the corersponding shaft, the lever for the B key extending under the lever for the B-iiat key to be actuated upon actuation of the B-flat key, an arm affixed to the G-sharp shaft and extending under the B and C-sharp levers, and screws threadedly received in said lever and in registry with said B and C-sharp levers and adjustable to retracted positions wherein said B and B-flat levers may be rocked without engaging said arm.

HUGH W. LONEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,382 Loomis Sept. 22, 1936 2,090,011 Selmer Aug. 17, 1937 2,180,118 y Loney Nov. 14, 1939 

